Wow, great to hear they are miles better than the CKN70's. What are they like in the bass region in comparison to them? My other potential buy is the RHA MA750 and the Sony XBA H1 but not sure on the latter anymore.

I think I did a write up earlier in the thread, but I could listen again and pay some impressions. The thread is too big to go through. Glad we're getting so much good feedback on the Gratitudes (really do like the pouches, too)

Got my Gratitudes a while back and have been using them for a couple hours. So far, pretty impressed. I don't really have all that much experience with high end earphones but, against other headphones I own, they do quite respectably. The highs seem a bit wonky with cymbals sounding a bit unnatural, but that might change with burn in and different tips. Also its not a super huge issue just a beginning note; too early to comment on the sound, but definitely worth the $60 for me.

OK, said I would listen to and compare Gratitudes and Philips S2. This is a tough one-both fine iem's. I'll start as I usually do with my fit analysis and disclaimer. The Monsters fit me well, not much difficulty with seal (settled on Complys for both). Philips has a short stem, and the disc/housing presses into the outer canal before I get a good seal. They are also open, while the Gratitudes are closed...I tend to like closed phones more. There are always trade offs. Open phones tend to be more open, wider soundstage, more/darker space between instruments. They lose out in body/solidity of instruments and often in bass impact. (I also like to not hear the outside world, and not have people around me have to listen to what I'm listening to). So...

Listened to the usual sources (see other comparisons). Starting with soundstage, S2 definitely does that with/openness stuff well, with more space between instruments, darker space between instruments. It details well. I'd say it has the cleaner highs of the 2 iems.

Mids and bass belong to the Gratitudes. The S2 has bass, does vocals nicely, but there's more "there there" as I like to say, with the Monsters. Bass has more oomph, instruments have more impact and presence, everything has more drive. Or, to put it another way, the Philips are more analytical, the Monsters more fun. The Gratitudes are more likely to make me want to get up and dance, S2 more to listen to the acoustic guitar in the corner. There are times I like to do one, other times I want to do the other. Still, with fit and other stuff mentioned, pull out the Gratitudes much more (different flavors, though, as mentioned. Sometimes one is in the mood for another flavor).

Got my Gratitudes a while back and have been using them for a couple hours. So far, pretty impressed. I don't really have all that much experience with high end earphones but, against other headphones I own, they do quite respectably. The highs seem a bit wonky with cymbals sounding a bit unnatural, but that might change with burn in and different tips. Also its not a super huge issue just a beginning note; too early to comment on the sound, but definitely worth the $60 for me.

That's interesting. The realism of the cymbals is part of what impressed me so much. Maybe I'm just crazy haha

The Gratitudes do cymbals and highs well, definitely present and accounted for...in direct comparison, though, I find the S2 a little "cleaner". The kind of thing that you notice in Geeky direct head to head comparisons, not necessarily in pleasure listening.